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12.2 Church Music Certificate

Concordia offers a 30-credit certificate program in Church Music. The program is designed to prepare students for a profession in church music through the completion of related courses in choral conducting and pedagogy, church music history, congregational song, and contemporary worship leadership. Concordia’s Church Music Certificate is designed to be completed alongside a 4-year BA or as a certificate to be completed after an undergraduate degree in Arts or Music.

A. Admission

Â鶹´«Ã½ provides novice instruction in a variety of areas; students may be asked to take additional courses at Â鶹´«Ã½ to meet admission requirements before entering the certificate program, depending on their background and experience.

1. Interview with a representative from the Fine Arts Department.
2. The admission to the certificate program is normally high school completion, and at least one year of post-secondary education (examples include Bible School, university instruction at Â鶹´«Ã½ or elsewhere), or over age 21.
3. Harmony Gr. 2 RCM (or equivalent) or higher; if this requirement is not met, MUS 211 and 212 will need to be added to the course requirements.
4. Ample study on private instrument. Individual should be at least at the Gr. 6 RCM level (or equivalent) on their primary instrument to enter this certificate program; the ‘church music instrument’ choices are piano, organ, handbells, voice or guitar, unless a strong case can be made for using another instrument for this program and for church music leadership.
5. Some previous experience in congregational music (may include directing/singing in choir, preparing/participating in ensembles, working with adults/children).

Note: This program is not a Designated Learning Program and not eligible to receive foreign nationals on a study permit.

B. Program Requirements

1. 30 credits required, to include:
   1. Two of the following three courses: , , .
   4. or
   5. and
   6. 3 credits in primary private lessons in major instrument/voice (, , , , MUPH 126, MUPH 226, , , , , , , , , , )
   7. 1.5 credits of secondary private lessons (, , , , , , ; if piano is not the major instrument, then it is strongly suggested that piano lessons fill this requirement; if piano is the primary instrument, then 1.5 credits in one of the other four designated church music instruments, with a strong suggestion towards fulfilling this requirement in voice).
   8. 1.5 credits of an ensemble (/, /, /, MUPE 164/MUPE 264, /, /, ): choral, handbell, instrumental or voice
   9. 6 credits, choosing three credits from each of the following areas:
      1. one Religious Studies course ( or REL 150, or any senior-level REL course)
      2. 3 credits chosen from , , , , , , , , or
2. achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.3 in the required courses, with no grade less than C-.
3. Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits at Â鶹´«Ã½.

and are needed, if the student has not proven to be at least at this level at entry into program.

C. Certification

Â鶹´«Ã½ issues the Church Music Certificate to students who apply to graduate, and successfully complete the required course work.